Martin Massengale

Martin Andrew Massengale (born October 25, 1933) is an American academic. He was the president of the University of Nebraska System from 1989 to 1994. Massengale is an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin and Western Kentucky University.

The Lincoln Rotary Club #14 is pleased to announce Dr. Martin Massengale as the 2016 Nebraskan of the Year. The award was presented October 18, 2016 in Lincoln, NE.

The Rotary #14 Nebraskan of the Year award was established to honor and recognize the accomplishments of a Nebraskan who has distinguished himself or herself through service to others in keeping with ideals of Rotary International.

Each year one honoree from a statewide field of nominees is selected based on honesty, integrity and concern for others; service in charitable and civic causes and; leadership and significant accomplishments in his/her profession or volunteer activities.

Dr. Massengale is President Emeritus of the University of Nebraska, Director of the Center for Grassland Studies and a Foundation Distinguished Professor. Prior to becoming President Emeritus in 1994, he served as President from 1991 to 1994, as Interim President from 1989 to 1991, as Chancellor of the University of Nebraska Lincoln from 1981 until 1991, and as Vice Chancellor for Agriculture and Natural Resources from 1976 to 1981. Prior to that time, he was a professor and associate dean of the College of Agriculture at the University of Arizona. Following his military service, he earned his B.S. from Western Kentucky University and his M.S. and Ph.D. from Wisconsin University. Throughout his career he has distinguished himself in academia with the publishing of numerous papers, national and international presentations, serving as the principal or co-investigator on a number of research studies and working to build cultural understanding across the world around the study of Agronomy, Botany, Plant Physiology, and Crop Ecology. Massengale’s most notable work is the creation of the Center for Grassland Studies. His leadership has help grow the program into an integrated study of grassland agriculture and turf management with a staff of over 130 across all four University of Nebraska campuses. He has served on numerous national commissions and advisory boards and currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Nebraska Historical Society Foundation, the Board of Trustees for the University of Nebraska Foundation, and the Board of Trustees of the Bryan Medical Center, among others.

Dr. Massengale and his wife, Ruth, have two children: Alan and Jennifer

Previous winners of the Nebraskan of the Year Award include businessman and philanthropist Duane Acklie, former U. S. Congressman and Husker Coach and Athletic Director Dr. Tom Osborne, U. S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser, Civil Rights Leader Leola Bullock and former Nebraska Governor Charles Thone.

Awards and Honors

Fellow: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America

Honorary Doctoral Degrees: Nebraska Wesleyan University; Senshu University, Tokyo, Japan

Lifetime Achievement Awards: Crop Science Distinguished Career Award, Crop Science Society of America; Outstanding Service Award, American Society of Agronomy; Midlands Man of the Year, Omaha World- Herald; Outstanding College/University President's Award

Charter Member: Hall of Fame of USDA's Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service. Dr. Massengale was inducted into this in 2004, Western Kentucky University Hall of Distinguished Alumni, Wayne County High School Hall of Fame

Other Awards: UNL College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (CASNR) Alumni Association Service Award, 2009; Gamma Sigma Delta Distinguished Achievement in Agriculture Award, 2008; Professor of Year, College of Agriculture, Univ. of Arizona; One of Outstanding Educators of America; One of ABI's Most Admired Men of the Decade; Award of Merit, Gamma Sigma Delta; Triumph of Agriculture Award; Chair, Secretary of Agriculture's National Advisory Board for Research, Extension, Education and Economics (REEE); Alpha Gamma Rho's Brothers of the Century Award; Nebraskalander Award; Distinguished Agricultural Alumnus of Western Kentucky University; Distinguished Service Award from Associated Students, University of Nebraska

Publications

•D.J. Undersander, J.H. Bouton, and M.A. Massengale. 2009. The Road Ahead: Policy, Programs, and Progress. Chapter of book titled, "Grassland: Quietness and Strength for a New American Agriculture." 14: 235-247. Published by ASA-CSSA-SSSA; edited by Walter F. Wedin and Steven Fales.

•Massengale, M.A. 1990. The Future of Land Grant Universities and Colleges of Agriculture Within Those Universities. J. Prod. Agr. 3:261-264.

•Schonhorst, M.H., A.K.. Dobrenz, R.K. Thompson, and M.A. Massengale. 1980. Registration of Az-Ron Alfalfa Germplasm. Crop Sci. 20:831.

•Cole, D.F., A.K. Dobrenz, and M.A. Massengale. 1972. Effect of growth regulator and antitranspirant chemicals on water requirement and growth components of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Crop Sci. 11:582-584.

•Bula, R.J., and M.A. Massengale. 1972. Environmental Physiology. Chapter VII in Alfalfa Monograph. Published by American Society of Agronomy, Madison, Wisconsin. pp. 167–184.

•Massengale, M.A., A.K. Dobrenz, H.A. Brubaker, and A.E. Bard, Jr. 1971. Response of alfalfa (Medicago spp L.) to light interruption of the dark period. Crop Sci. 11:9-12.

•Dobrenz, A.K., D.F. Cole, and M.A. Massengale. 1971. Yield components and leaf characteristics associated with water requirement of alfalfa. Crop Sci. 11-124-125.

Degrees B.S., Agriculture, Western Kentucky University, 1952

M.S., Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1954

Ph.D., Agronomy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1956

http://agronomy.unl.edu/massengale

http://kneb.com/regional-news/dr-martin-massengale-chosen-as-rotary-nebraskan-of-the-year/